If, as I wrote yesterday, listening is the key to evangelism, love is its foundation. Our outreach must be motivated by love.

Love for God leads us to join in His desire to see everyone come to salvation. He has modeled a love for the world that moves us to show compassion to others. Our love for God also leads us to see that the greatest need that people have is the need for a relationship with God. Physical needs are important, but they can’t compare with our greatest need.

Love for our neighbor means being willing to do whatever it takes to help them find that relationship with God. We will risk embarrassment and awkwardness. We will risk endangering a friendship if it means helping the other move one step closer to God. This love will impulse us in ways that no command nor law ever could.

Love grounds our evangelism in God Himself, for God is love.